Clarence Berger
Encyclopedia
Clarence Edward Berger was a professional baseball
player whose career spanned two seasons (1914–15). During that one season, Berger played for the minor league
Richmond Colts
and the major league
Pittsburgh Pirates
during the 1914 season. He also played for the minor league Newport News Shipbuilders during the 1915 season. Berger batted left-handed, while throwing right. During his playing career, he stood at 6 feet (182.9 cm) and weighed in at 185 pounds (83.9 kg). Before turning professional, Berger attended the University of Richmond
in Richmond, Virginia
where he played baseball on the school's team. After his baseball career was over, Berger worked as a bookkeeper, and eventually moved in with his brother, Dr. Howard S. Berger.
to Charles A. and Della E. of West Virginia
, and Ohio
, respectively. Charles A. Berger worked as a foreman
at the local U.S. Naval Yard. Clarence Berger had one sibling, Howard S. Berger. During the spring of 1914, Clarence Berger graduated from the University of Richmond
, where he played on the school's baseball team as an outfielder
, and catcher
.
of the Virginia League
. With the Colts, he batted
.298 with 154 hits
, 13 doubles
, 12 triples
, and two home run
s in 136 games played
. Berger finished second in the league in hits, and triples. On August 22, the Pittsburgh Pirates
purchased Berger's contract from the Richmond Colts for US$2,500, the largest sum a player from the Virginia League had ever gone for. Berger was told to report to the Pirates following the end of the Virginia League season. On September 16, following the Virginia League season, Berger failed to report to Pittsburgh. Eventually, Berger did report, and he made his Major League Baseball
(MLB) debut on September 23, 1914. On the season, he batted .077 with two runs scored, and one hit in six games played. Defensively, he played in the outfield for the Pirates.
On February 14, 1915, Berger was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was announced that he would join the newly-formed Richmond Climbers of the International League
that season. However, Richmond farmed Berger to the Class-C Newport News Shipbuilders of the Virginia League that season. Berger had previously made a verbal agreement to join the Class-C Norfolk Tars
, but could not break his agreement with Newport News to do so. With the Shipbuilders, be batted .172 with 15 hits, one double, and one triple in 23 games played.
. By 1942, Berger was living in Arlington County, Virginia
with his brother Dr. Howard S. Berger. At the time, Berger was unemployed. Clarence Berger died on June 30, 1959 at the age of 64 in Washington, D.C.
He was burred at Mount Olivet Cemetery
in Frederick, Maryland
.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player whose career spanned two seasons (1914–15). During that one season, Berger played for the minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Richmond Colts
Richmond Colts
The Richmond Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1953. They played in the Virginia League in 1894, and in another Virginia League in 1900, and another Virginia League from 1906–1914 and from 1918-1928...
and the major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
during the 1914 season. He also played for the minor league Newport News Shipbuilders during the 1915 season. Berger batted left-handed, while throwing right. During his playing career, he stood at 6 feet (182.9 cm) and weighed in at 185 pounds (83.9 kg). Before turning professional, Berger attended the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
where he played baseball on the school's team. After his baseball career was over, Berger worked as a bookkeeper, and eventually moved in with his brother, Dr. Howard S. Berger.
Early life
Berger was born on November 1, 1894 in East Cleveland, OhioEast Cleveland, Ohio
East Cleveland is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, and is the first suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 17,843 at the 2010 census....
to Charles A. and Della E. of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, respectively. Charles A. Berger worked as a foreman
Foreman
Foreman may refer to:* Construction foreman, the worker or tradesman who is in charge of the construction crew* Foreman of Signals, the most highly qualified non-commissioned signal equipment managers and Incorporated Engineers in the Royal Corps of Signals...
at the local U.S. Naval Yard. Clarence Berger had one sibling, Howard S. Berger. During the spring of 1914, Clarence Berger graduated from the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
, where he played on the school's baseball team as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
Professional career
At the start of the 1914 season, Berger signed with the Class-C Richmond ColtsRichmond Colts
The Richmond Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1953. They played in the Virginia League in 1894, and in another Virginia League in 1900, and another Virginia League from 1906–1914 and from 1918-1928...
of the Virginia League
Virginia League
The Virginia League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in Virginia and North Carolina from 1906 to 1928. It was classified as a "C" league from 1906 to 1919 and as a "B" league from 1920 to 1928....
. With the Colts, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.298 with 154 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 13 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 12 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in 136 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. Berger finished second in the league in hits, and triples. On August 22, the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
purchased Berger's contract from the Richmond Colts for US$2,500, the largest sum a player from the Virginia League had ever gone for. Berger was told to report to the Pirates following the end of the Virginia League season. On September 16, following the Virginia League season, Berger failed to report to Pittsburgh. Eventually, Berger did report, and he made his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB) debut on September 23, 1914. On the season, he batted .077 with two runs scored, and one hit in six games played. Defensively, he played in the outfield for the Pirates.
On February 14, 1915, Berger was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was announced that he would join the newly-formed Richmond Climbers of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
that season. However, Richmond farmed Berger to the Class-C Newport News Shipbuilders of the Virginia League that season. Berger had previously made a verbal agreement to join the Class-C Norfolk Tars
Norfolk Tars
The Norfolk Tars were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1906 to 1955. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, they played in the Virginia League from 1906 to 1918 and from 1921 to 1928, in the Eastern League from 1931 to 1932 and in the Piedmont League from 1934 to 1955, and from 1934...
, but could not break his agreement with Newport News to do so. With the Shipbuilders, be batted .172 with 15 hits, one double, and one triple in 23 games played.
Later life
In 1930, Berger was working as a bookkeeper in Fairfax County, VirginiaFairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
. By 1942, Berger was living in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
with his brother Dr. Howard S. Berger. At the time, Berger was unemployed. Clarence Berger died on June 30, 1959 at the age of 64 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He was burred at Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery (Frederick)
Mount Olivet Cemetery is a cemetery in Frederick City, Maryland. It was chartered on October 4, 1852 to provide several of the downtown churches more room for interments, after their cemeteries became full...
in Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
.